Like all equipment with moving parts, every camera has a finite life cycle, and one disastrous failing is when a shutter craps out. That’s why it’s important to know how to check the number of images captured with your camera, or another one you want to buy used.

It’s also important to know the shutter count of cameras you sell, because that’s one of the first questions you’ll receive from prospective buyers. In the tutorial below you’ll learn how find this critical piece of information in barely four minutes.

As you know, all cameras aren’t created equal, and that goes for the lifecycle of a shutter. Most entry-level and midrange camera’s are rated for at least 100,000 actuations, while high-end models have shutters designed to last for 300,000- 400,000 exposures or more.

To complicate matters many shutters last well beyond their life expectancy, while there are times when they die earlier. Unfortunately, these variations are difficult if not impossible to predict. Factors that affect a shutter’s lifespan include how the camera is treated and maintained with service, as needed, environmental conditions, and more.

Instructor Vlad Manea is a respected Romanian photographer now based in Germany, who regularly posts straightforward tutorials with simple tips on techniques and gear targeted at amateur shooters.

It’s much safer to purchase used cameras from a reliable seller, and Manea says the best way to avoid buying a lemon is a quick shutter-count check—either by you if you have access to the camera or by a seller you trust. Manea says a high shutter count “isn’t necessarily a deal breaker” if everything else looks good and functions properly.

On the other hand, a high shutter count could indicate the likelihood of other mechanical problems in the future. At this point you’re probably thinking about grabbing your camera(s) to see where you stand.

Fortunately Manea demonstrates how to use a simple free app that does the analysis for you almost instantly. And it works with most popular models and brands of cameras.

After watching this video take a look at Manea’s new instructional YouTube channel and see what else he has to offer. On a related topic, don’t miss the earlier tutorial we posted with a helpful focal length chart to help you make an informed decision when purchasing a new lens.

If you’ve never had the time or money to go on a photo safari, today is your lucky day. You don’t have to pack a suitcase or pay for hotel rooms and expensive plane tickets, because the itinerary here is a quick trip to your own backyard. Apartment dwellers should pay close attention too, since the tips in the tutorial work equally well at your neighborhood park or at a close-by nature center.

This video from the Adorama TV YouTube channel is designed to help capture extraordinary close-up images of a variety of subjects with simple gear that you probably already own. In less than 10 minutes this helpful guide covers everything from primary gear, helpful accessories, composition and other techniques, camera settings, and using light to advantage.

Instructor Gavin Joey is an accomplished British photographer and educator based in the UK. He often travels far and wide to capture his stunning imagery, but in this behind-the-scenes “excursion” he steps outside his studio and into the convenience of his garden to demonstrate how easy it is to make attention-grabbing macro photos close to home.

Hoey kicks off the journey by shooting with available light, explaining the camera settings he prefers for a variety of situations.  Then he demonstrates how a simple, affordable reflector can turn good photos into great ones by transforming harsh sunlight into soft shade.

Next Hoey adds a simple flash to improve results even further. If you’re one of those photographers who proudly “always shoots with available light” because you secretly think flash is too complicated, Hoey belies these fears by explaining how easy it is to do.

This is perhaps the best time of year to put on your seldom-used safari vest, because your backyard is likely full of great subjects from colorful flowers and buds, to all kinds of creepy crawlies like lizards, spiders, butterflies, and other interesting insects.

There’s also a discussion of the simple gear Hoey recommends, and a few tricks for maximizing depth of field to give macro shots more depth and dimension. You can find more helpful tutorials on the Adorama TV YouTube channel, and view Hoey’s amazing imagery on his Instagram page.

And don’t miss the explainer we posted from another top pro, with a complete guide to using inexpensive lens filters to capture better outdoor photographs.

If you always limit yourself to one specific genre of photography your editing workflow may be pretty well defined. But most shooters have a more eclectic approach to our craft, requiring different processing methods depending up the type of image at hand.

In other words, it would be a mistake to edit a landscape scene using the same methods you employ when processing portraits, so it’s very helpful be just as versatile during the processing task as you are when out shooting in the field.

The comprehensive lesson below is designed with one goal in mind; help you edit images of birds for the best results possible. Whether you specialize photographing our feathered friends, or just do so occasionally, this step-by step guide will help you up your game.

Photographer Chris Parker is based in Jacksonville Texas, and he’s been a working pro for over 30 years. He posts weekly tutorials designed to help expand your skills and “challenge your creative vision.” In this valuable episode Parker demonstrates his preferred method for editing bird photo from start to finish.

Parker begins with a pretty photo of cheerful chickadee, straight out of the camera. You’ll then watch him perfect the shot using everything from Denoise AI to retouching in Photoshop and back to Lightroom, and much more.

You’ll learn some pro tips for cropping and how Parker applies built-in Lens Correction presets to deal with distortion and skewed perspective. Likewise, he has a quick method for adding a vignette to direct a viewer’s eye to the main subject of an image. Parker also discusses how to use the Tone Curve to make a variety of enhancements, and there’s a detailed discussion of adjusting Contrast, White Balance, and Tonal Values to really make your bird photos sing.

The lesson wraps up with some solid advice for employing masks, using Denoise AI, and finishing the job with a quick retouch in Photoshop. Parker covers a lot of ground in just 20 minutes, so you may want to take a few notes for future reference.

There’ much more to learn on Parker’s instructional YouTube channel, so take a close look when you have time. We also suggest watching the tutorial we posted recently from another expert, with 10 pro tricks for shooting beautiful nature, travel, and wildlife photographs.

If you’ve been following Shutterbug you know how we feel about the so-called Rules of Photography; namely, sometimes they’re meant to be broken. Likewise, there are several digital photography myths that need to be ignored.

So says photographer Jacques Gaines, as you’ll see in the quick tutorial below. In fact he puts it even more bluntly with this bold statement: “In this video I explore five of the most awful digital photography myths that need debunking.”

Gaines says his goal for this lesson is to make these common untruths disappear from your mind by the time you finish watching. His first step in “clearing up the lies” is to dispel the notion that “you have to to have a natural eye for taking photos” if you want to achieve great results.

It’s certainly true that some folks have a superior ability to see and frame images in a unique and artistic way. According to Gaines, however, there are ways to develop and perfect this sensitivity, even if it’s not innate, and he has a few great suggestions for doing that.

Another myth that arouses Gaines’ ire is the claim by beginners that “photography is too technical.” In fact, the act of making images is only as complicated as you make it, with the best approach being to stay within your skills, and move on to more ambitious tasks as your confidence and abilities progress.

Gaines puts it like this: “With all its dials a camera can be daunting at times, but the basic principles are easy to grasp.” He notes further that anyone can be up-and-running in no time with a quick read of the camera manual. In other words, “You need to walk before you run.” 

Misconception number three is one we’ve discussed numerous times in the past; namely, the silly claim that you’re not a real photographer unless you shoot in Manual mode. Likewise, Gaines explains why the insistence that “better cameras take better pictures” is counterproductive.

While pro models offer high resolution and an abundance of convenient features, and tend to be far more robust than midrange cameras, it’s actually YOU who takes the picture. Gaines also provides his take on recent developments in artificial intelligence, and what they mean for the future of photography.

Gaines’ YouTube channel has more great advice based upon his passion and experience in photography, so be sure to take a look. And don’t miss an earlier tutorial we posted, explaining an unusual editing technique for transforming blah photos into something special.